HB1520: HB1520 Rental Pricing Integrity Act; enact

Some landlords use software tools that recommend rental prices and occupancy strategies based on data. This bill targets tools that pull in nonpublic rental data from multiple competing landlords, arguing that sharing this kind of private data through pricing software could reduce competition and push up rents. The bill amends Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act of 1975 (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393) to add a new violation category, then creates a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.22) defining terms like 'algorithmic rent-setting tool' and 'nonpublic competitor data,' banning their combined use to set rents, and requiring annual certification to the Attorney General plus five years of recordkeeping. Violations count as unfair or deceptive practices, but only the Attorney General, not private individuals, can bring enforcement actions. The law would take effect immediately upon the Governor's signature and would apply to rental agreements, renewals, and extensions entered into after that date.

• Makes it illegal for landlords or software 'coordinators' to use rent-setting algorithms that combine nonpublic rental data from two or more competing landlords to set prices or occupancy.
• Requires any landlord or coordinator using such a tool to certify annually to the Attorney General that the tool does not violate the nonpublic data ban.
• Requires landlords and coordinators to keep vendor contracts, data documentation, pricing recommendation records, and proof of independent pricing decisions for at least five years.
• Adds violations of this new rule as a specific unlawful practice under Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393).
• Limits enforcement solely to the Attorney General, explicitly blocking private lawsuits (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-399) over these violations.
• Applies the law to rental agreements, renewals, modifications, or extensions signed on or after the effective date.

Residential landlords, property managers, and companies that sell or operate algorithmic rent-pricing software (called 'coordinators' in the bill) are directly regulated. Renters in Georgia are indirectly affected since the bill targets pricing practices that could influence what they pay.

If enacted, landlords and rental software companies would face new legal limits on pooling private competitor pricing data through algorithms, along with paperwork obligations like annual certification and five years of recordkeeping. Renters could see effects on rental pricing practices, though only the Attorney General, not tenants, could sue over violations.

• Section 3 adds a new paragraph (38) to O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393(b) making failure to comply with the new rent-pricing rule an unlawful business practice.
• Section 4 creates O.C.G.A. § 10-1-393.22, defining 'algorithmic rent-setting tool,' 'coordinator,' 'landlord,' 'nonpublic competitor data,' 'rental market data,' and 'residential property.'
• Subsection (b) of the new section bans using rent-setting tools that incorporate nonpublic competitor data from two or more landlords in the same or similar market.
• Subsection (c) requires annual certification to the Attorney General and five-year retention of vendor contracts, data documentation, pricing records, and evidence of independent pricing.
• Subsection (d) makes violations an unfair or deceptive practice enforceable only by the Attorney General, not through private lawsuits.
• Section 5 sets the effective date as upon the Governor's approval and applies the law to rental agreements and renewals signed on or after that date.

1. 2026-03-10House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-09House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-06House Hopper (House)

• Tanya Miller (D, HD-062)Primary sponsor
• Saira Draper (D, HD-090)
• Derrick Jackson (D, HD-068)
• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)
• Terry Cummings (D, HD-039)
• Anne Westbrook (D, HD-163)

• rental pricing
• landlord regulations
• consumer protection
• algorithmic pricing
• housing affordability